"There's nothing new under the sun."

Ecclesiastes Ch1 v9.

The Post Office has always been reluctant to favour complete standardisation in its vehicle fleet as this would make it dependent on a single manufacturer. It would also prevent comparison of different marques over prolonged use, and appear to show preferential treatment.

As the owner of one of the largest road transport fleets in Europe, the costs of purchasing, maintaining and running its vehicles is now the driving force behind decision-making. This is particularly true in the open mail market.

In the past, coach-built bodies to Post Office specifications were fitted to manufacturers' chassis. Today the business more typically adopts standard vans and lorries from manufacturers with minimal alteration.

Because the vehicles themselves are no longer so unique, a strong brand identity is more important. The distinctive red livery helps to maintain that special aura around one of the country’s most familiar and trusted names: Royal Mail.

Illustrations

Postbus with driver Tim Kimber, 2006

DAF 26 tonne lorry, 2006

Fiat Doblo van, 2006

Honda 650cc motorcycle, 2006

Peugeot Postal Acceleration Vehicle, 2006